About Argiope trifasciata (Forsskål, 1775)
Argiope trifasciata, commonly called the banded garden spider or banded orb weaving spider, is a spider species originally native to North and South America, though it can now be found around the world. These spiders typically start appearing in autumn, from early September to late October as temperatures begin to drop. In Egypt, this species' type locality, females have been found surviving the region's relatively warm winter months. The circular orb webs this species builds can reach around 60 cm in diameter, and the total length of the web depends on the size of the spider; webs can reach a total length of up to two meters. Originally from the Americas, Argiope trifasciata has been introduced to locations worldwide. In Europe, it occurs on the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary Islands, and Madeira. The similar-looking species Argiope bruennichi is common in the Azores. In Africa, the species has been recorded in three countries. In South Africa specifically, it is known from eight of the country's nine provinces, at elevations ranging from 3 to 1,557 meters above sea level. Argiope trifasciata builds its orb webs in wetlands, open grasslands, and gardens. Webs are usually positioned low in shrubby vegetation that is sturdy enough to support the web's weight. The spider hangs head-down at the center hub of its web throughout the day. In South Africa, the species lives in all floral biomes except the Nama Karoo and Succulent Karoo biomes, and individuals have also been collected from crop fields growing cotton, kenaf, lucerne, and tomatoes.
